Dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Dispensing apparatus comprising several cardboard tubes packed with needles to be dispensed, and a fabric tape threaded axially through all the tubes and wrapped around bunches of the needles in each tube. The dispensing apparatus is housed within a load carrying compartment of a projectile from which the needles are to be dispensed and the ends of the fabric tape are secured to a forward and aft part of the projectile. The forward and aft parts are separable during flight of the projectile so that the cardboard tubes are exposed to atmosphere and the fabric tape is straightened out. The straightening out action of the fabric tape ejects the needles from the cardboard tubes and dispenses them from the projectile into the atmosphere within which they scatter.

Unite States Patent Whatmore [451 Dec. 19, 1972 [54] DISPENSING APPARATUS [21] Appl. No.: 16,454

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 834,596 5/1960 Great Britain ..343/18 8 Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney-Christensen and Sanbom [5 7] ABSTRACT Dispensing apparatus comprising several cardboard tubes packed with needles to be dispensed, and a fabric tape threaded axially through all the tubes and wrapped around bunches of the needles in each tube. The dispensing apparatus is housed within a load carrying compartment of a projectile from which the needles are to be dispensed and the ends of the fabric tape are secured to a forward and aft part of the projectile. The forward and aft parts are separable during flight of the projectile so that the cardboard tubes are exposed to atmosphere and the fabric tape is straightened out. The straightening out action of the fabric tape ejects the needles from the cardboard tubes and dispenses them from the projectile into the atmosphere within which they scatter.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENYEQBEEIQ I972 3,706 997 sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR QJBEWT ZA HA TMOE'E MW ATTORNE y;

PATENTED DEC 19 1972 3. 706, 997

SHEET 2 BF 2 /N VE N 7 0R 055 Mama/0x25 WM A T TORNEY5 DISPENSING APPARATUS This invention relates to dispensing apparatus of the kind including a container for articles to be dispensed, the container being adapted to be associated with a fluid for relative movement therebetween, and ejecting means for ejecting a mass of said articles from the container into the relatively moving fluid so that the articles are scattered within the fluid. The invention is concerned particularly with dispensing apparatus for automatically dispensing articles such as needles from projectiles in flight.

If dispensing apparatus for dispensing a pack of needles from a V projectile includes a system of levers, springs, etc., which system is operable, when it is required to dispense the needles, to move the pack of needles laterally of the projectile into the select stream thereof so the air-flow over the pack scatters the needles, it will be appreciated that the system will occupy space within the projectile which might otherwise be filled with needles and that a significant proportion of the power developed by the power plant of the projectile will be employed in carrying the system rather than in carrying the needles to be dispensed.

According to this invention there is provided dispensing apparatus including a container for articles to be dispensed, the container being adapted to be associated with a fluid for relative movement therebetween, and ejecting means for ejecting a mass of said articles from the container into the relative moving fluid so that the ejected articles are scattered with the fluid, wherein the ejecting means includes an elongate member of flexible material, the elongate member being adapted to be wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles within the container and to be connected to actuating means which act to straighten out the elongate member, the arrangement being such that, when the elongate member is wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles contained within the container and is straightened out by the action of the actuating means, at least part of the mass of said articles contained within the container is ejected from the container by the straightening out action of the elongate member.

Preferably the container comprises a cylindrical tube.

Conveniently the elongate member passes through the axial passage defined by the cylindrical tube, one end of the elongate member being on one side of the cylindrical tube and the other end of the elongate member being on the other side of the cylindrical tube.

The container may be one of a plurality of containers each of which comprises a cylindrical tube, and the elongate member may be arranged to pass through the axial passage defined by each tube so that one end of the elongate member is on one side of the plurality of containers and the other end is on the other side of the plurality of containers. The dispensing apparatus may include a plurality of discs of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the tubes, each disc being arranged to be located between a respective side by side pair of the tubes in a plane normal to the tubes. Optionally the discs may be secured to the elongate member which conveniently comprises a fabric or aluminum tape.

According to a feature of this invention an article dispensing pack comprises a said dispensing apparatus, the or each container containing articles to be dispensed through an opening of the respective container. The elongate member may be wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles contained in the container, or in one of the containers so as to define at least one open loop, the closed end of the or each loop being remote from the opening through which the articles of said mass are to be dispensed. Where the or each container is a cylindrical tube, the elongate member may be wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles contained in the cylindrical tube, or in one of the cylindrical tubes in such a way that it extends through the axial passage defined by the cylindrical tube when the elongate member has been straightened out and the articles have been ejected therefrom. Conveniently the elongate member is wrapped around part of the periphery of the mass of said articles within a said cylindrical tube so that it follows a path which extends initially between the articles and the tube in a generally axial direction from one end of the tube to the other, which path then turns and extends part way across said other end of the tube in a generally radial direction across the articles to a point upon which it extends back through the articles in a generally axial direction to said one end where it turns and extends in the same generally radial direction across the articles and which finally extends between the articles and the tube in a generally axial direction from said one end to said other end. Where there are a plurality of said cylindrical tubes, the path followed by the elongate member through one of the tubes of each side by side pair of said tubes may be of the opposite hand to the path followed by the elongate member through the other tube of that side by side pair of tubes.

Preferably the articles comprise needles of aluminum foil. Conveniently the aluminum foil needles are aligned axially of the tube within which they are contained and are arranged in bunches which are surrounded by paper bands. The or each cylindrical tube or disc may be made of cardboard.

According to another feature of this invention a projectile has separable forward and aft portions which cooperate to house a siad article dispensing pack, one end of the elongate member being secured to the forward portion and the other end of the elongate member being secured to the aft portion, the arrangement being such that, upon separation of the forward and aft portions whilst the projectile is in flight, the article dispensing pack is exposed and the elongate member is straightened out so that articles contained in the article dispensing pack are ejected from the projectile.

One embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a projectile carrying an aluminum foil needle dispensing pack in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of dispensing apparatus in accordance with this invention comprising three containers filled with bunches of aluminum foil needles; and

FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the projectile of FIG. 1 with its forward and aft portions separated and the aluminum foil needles ejected.

l060ll 0246 Referring to FIG. 1 a projectile has a forward portion 11 and an aft portion 12. The detailed construction and operation of the projectile 10 forms no part of the present invention. It is sufficient to understand that the forward portion 11 is adapted to be secured to the aft portion 12, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, so as to surround an article dispensing pack 13 which fills the load carrying space 14 of the projectile 10, and also that the projectile 10 is provided with means whereby the forward portion 11 can be separated from the aft portion 12 during flight.

The article dispensing pack 13 comprises three cardboard cylindrical tubes 15, 16 and 17 which are mounted coaxially within the load carrying space 14. The axial length of each tube 15, 16, 17 is approximately one-third the inside diameter thereof. Each tube 15, 16, 17 is filled with aluminum foil needles 18 which are aligned axially of the tube 15, 16, 17. The needles 18 are arranged conveniently in bunches which are surrounded laterally by paper bands 13. Each needle 18 extends substantially the whole axial length of the respective tube 15, 16, 17 and is very small in its lateral dimensions.

A fabric tape 20 is passed through each tube 15, 16, 17 so as to follow a path from one side to the other of the whole pack 13. One end of the tape 20 is fixed to the forward portion 11 of the projectile 10 and the other end of the tape 20 is fixed to the aft portion 12 of the projectile 10. Recesses 21 and 22 are formed respectively in the forward portion 11 and the aft portion 12. A length of the tape 20 is stored in each recess 21, 22, the stored length in each recess 21, 22 being longer than the axial length of the overlapping parts of the forward and aft portions 11 and 12.

The path through each tube 15, 16, 17 is such that the tape 20 is threaded first between the needles 18 and the tube wall in a generally axial direction from one end of the tube 15, 16, 17 to the other, the tape portion emerging at said other end is turned through 90 and passed radially to the center of the tube 15, 16, 17 across the ends of the needles 1% contained therein, is then threaded back between the needles 18 along the axis of the tube 15, 16, 17 to emerge at said first end where it is turned again through 90 and led in the same radial sense to the point on the tube 15, 16, 17 diametrically opposite the first tape portion threaded between the needles 18 and the tube wall, from which point the tape 20 is threaded finally between the needles 18 and the tube wall to emerge from the other end of the tube 15, 16, 17 and be passed to the next tube 15, 16, 17 to follow a path through the next tube 15, 16, 17 which, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, is similar but of the opposite hand. It will be understood that the path of the tape 20 through each tube 15, 16, 17 defines two open loops within that tube; the two radial legs of that path define the closed ends of the loops, the three axially aligned legs of that path define the sides of the loops, and the central axially aligned leg is common to both loops.

Two cardboard discs 23 and 24 of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of each tube 15, 16, 17 are located so that the disc 23 lies between the side by side pair of tubes and 16 and the disc 24$ lies between the other side by side pair of tubes 16 and 17. Each disc 23, 241 is in a plane normal to the axis of the tubes 15, 16, 17.

When it is desired to dispense the needles 18 from the projectile 10, the forward portion 1 1 of the projectile 10 is separated from the aft portion 12 so that a pull is exerted on the tape 20 by the separating portions 11 and 12 to straighten out the tape 21). In straightening out, the tape 20 throws the bunch of needles 18 out of the tube 15, 16, 17 and out of the projectile 10, the pack 13 having beenuncovered by the separation of the forward part 11 from the aft part 12 as shown in FIG. 3. When the'bunch of needles 18 are ejected from the projectile 10, they disintegrate and the needles 1% scatter. The length of the tape 20 stored in the recesses 21 and 22 ensures that the pack 13 is uncovered by the separation of the projectile portions 11 and 12 before the tape 20 is straightened out fully.

Various modifications and refinements of the embodiment described above may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the cardboard discs 23 and 34 may 'be secured to the tape so as to act as a means of dislodging needles 18 which remain in the cardboard tubes 15, 16, 17 during the tape straightening out process. Alternatively any other suitable means of dislodging needles which remain in the cardboard tubes during the tape straightening out process may be employed. The tape need not be fabric, any other suitable material may be employed for example an aluminum tape. It will be appreciated that any other suitably flexible elongated member which is strong enough to carry out the'necessary ejection action whilst straightening out may be employed as a tape. It will be appreciated also that various other articles may be ejected from a dispensing apparatus in accordance with this invention, for example leaflets, copper needles or needles of any other material.

I claim:

1. An article dispensing pack comprising means defining a tube having an axially extending passage therethrough which opens to the ambient surroundings of the tube at both axial ends thereof, and which has sides therein that are relatively opposed to one another crosswise the axis of the tube; a plurality of discrete articles which are detachably disposed in the passage between the sides thereof; and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube through the end openings thereof, including an elongated eject member which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside thereof, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, and which has a flexible, tape-like portion thereof which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of in said direction, and which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside the passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relativelyoutside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tapel060l l 0247 like portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members, said eject member being so cooperatively arranged with respect to the articles, as to eject the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube, through one or the other end opening thereof, when the tape-like portion of the eject member is flexed to assume the aforesaid rectilinear condition thereof. 7

2. The article dispensing pack according to claim 1 wherein the eject member also has flexible, tape-like portions thereof which extend between the intermediate points and the first and second points, respectively, substantially parallel to the axis of the tube, in the passage, and which are flexibly disposed to assume a rectilinear condition with the first-mentioned tapelike portion of the eject member, when the tensile forces are applied to the member.

3. The article dispensing pack according to claim 2 wherein each of the intermediate points is disposed relatively adjacent the opposite end of the tube, relative to the first or second point on the same side of the passage therewith.

4. The article dispensing pack according to claim 3 wherein the first-and second-mentioned tape-like portions of the eject member form a substantially S-shaped configuration within the passage, and the articles are disposed in the reversedly disposed folds thereof, to be ejected through the opposite end openings of the tube.

5. The article dispensing pack according to claim 4 wherein the tube is elongated and is divided lengthwise into an odd number of axially aligned segments, and the eject member extends from segment to segment, forming alternately reversedlydisposed, substantially S- shaped configurations in the respective segments.

6. The article dispensing pack according to claim 5 wherein there is a disc axially interposed between each pair of segments, and the eject member is connected to each disc, adjacent the edge thereof.

7. In combination, a pair of mounting members which are relatively reciprocable in a direction relatively away from one another, and an article dispensing pack supported therebetween, comprising means defining a tube which is gravitationally released and detached from the mounting members when the members are relatively reciprocated in said direction, and which has an axially extending passage therethrough that opens to the ambient surroundings of the tube at both axial ends thereof, and that has sides therein which are relatively opposed to one another crosswise the axis of the tube, a plurality of discrete articles which are detachably disposed in the passage between the sides thereof; and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube through the end openings thereof, including an elongated eject member which is connected to the mounting members to be stretched therebetween when the members are relatively reciprocated in said direction, and which extends through the passa e, continuously from a first point relatively outside t e passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tape-like portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members, said eject member being so cooperatively arranged with respect to the articles, as to eject the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube, through one or the other end opening thereof, when the tape-like portion of the eject member is flexed to assume the aforesaid rectilinear condition thereof.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the tube is releasably supported on the mounting members and connected to the mounting members at the first and second points thereof, there being additional flexible, tape-like portions of the eject member which extend between the intermediate points and the first and second points, respectively, and which are flexibly disposed in the passage to assume a rectilinear condition with the first-mentioned tape-like portion of the eject member, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein each of the intermediate points is disposed relatively adjacent the opposite end of the tube, relative to the first or second point on the same side of the passage therewith.

10. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the mounting members take the form of a pair of casing components which mate with one another to form a projectile having a load carrying cavity therein in which the pack is enclosed for flight with the projectile.

11. An article dispensing pack for interposition between a pair of members which are relatively reciprocable in a direction relatively away from one another, comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes each of which is open at both ends, articles to be dispensed contained within the axial passages defined by the tubes, and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tubes through the end openings thereof, including an elongate member of flexible material which is passed through the passages of the tubes, one end of the elongate member, which is on one side of the plurality of tubes, being adapted to be connected to one of said pair of members, and the other end, which is on the other side of the plurality of tubes, being adapted to be connected to the other of said pair of members, the elongate member being wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles contained within each tube, so that when the elongate member is straightened out by separation of the pair of members, at least part of the mass of articles contained within each of the tubes is ejected therefrom.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 6' Dated December 19, 1972 Robert Whatmore It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, column 4, line 62 through column 5, line 9, delete "in said direction, and which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside the passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tapelike portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side vof'the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a I rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members," r

and insert the following therefor the tube, when tensile forces are applied to the eject member at the first ,and second points thereof; 4

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,J'R. ROBERT GO'ITSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 2 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,997 Dated December 19, 1972 lnventofls) Robert Whatmore It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' "I Claim 1, column 4, line 62 through column 5, line 9, delete "in said direction, and which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside the passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tape' like portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of'the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members,"

and insert the following therefor the tube, when tensile forces are applied .to the eject member at the first ,and second points thereof;-.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An article dispensing pack comprising means defining a tube having an axially extending passage therethrough which opens to the ambient surroundings of the tube at both axial ends thereof, and which has sides therein that are relatively opposed to one another crosswise the axis of the tube; a plurality of discrete articles which are detachably disposed in the passage between the sides thereof; and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube through the end openings thereof, including an elongated eject member which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside thereof, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, and which has a flexible, tape-like portion thereof which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of in said direction, and which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside the passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tape-like portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members, said eject member being so cooperatively arranged with respect to the articles, as to eject the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube, through one or the other end opening thereof, when the tape-like portion of the eject member is flexed to assume the aforesaid rectilinear condition thereof.
 2. The article dispensing pack according to claim 1 wherein the eject member also has flexible, tape-like portions thereof which extend between the intermediate points and the first and second points, respectively, substantially parallel to the axis of the tube, in the passage, and which are flexibly disposed to assume a rectilinear condition with the first-mentioned tape-like portion of the eject member, when the tensile forces are applied to the member.
 3. The article dispensing pack according to claim 2 wherein each of the intermediate points is disposed relatively adjacent the opposite end of the tube, relative to the first or second point on the same side of the passage therewith.
 4. The article dispensing pack according to claim 3 wherein the first-and second-mentioned tape-like portions of the eject member form a substantially S-shaped configuration within the passage, and the articles are disposed in the reversedly disposed folds thereof, to be ejected through the opposite end openings of the tube.
 5. The article dispensing pack according to claim 4 wherein the tube is elongated and is divided lengthwise into an odd number of axially aligned segments, and the eject member extends from segment to segment, forming alternately reversedly disposed, substantially S-shaped configurations in the respective segments.
 6. The article dispensing pack according to claim 5 wherein there is a disc axially interposed between each pair of segments, and the eject member is connected to each disc, adjacent the edge thereof.
 7. In combination, a pair of mounting members which are relatively reciprocable in a direction relatively away from one another, and an article dispensing pack supported therebetween, comprising means defining a tube which is gravitationally released and detached from the mounting members when the members are relatively reciprocated in said direction, and which has an axially extending passage therethrough that opens to the ambient surroundings of the tube at both axial ends thereof, and that has sides therein which are relatively opposed to one another crosswise the axis of the tube, a plurality of discrete articles which are detachably disposed in the passage between the sides thereof; and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube through the end openings thereof, including an elongated eject member which is connected to the mounting members to be stretched therebetween when the members are relatively reciprocated in said direction, and which extends through the passage, continuously from a first point relatively outside the passage, adjacent one end of the tube and one side of the passage, to a second point relatively outside the passage, adjacent the other end of the tube and the other side of the passage, there being a flexible, tape-like portion of the eject member which extends crosswise the axis of the tube, within the passage, from an intermediate point relatively adjacent the one side of the passage, to an intermediate point relatively adjacent the other side thereof, and which is flexibly disposed between the latter intermediate points, to assume a rectilinear condition, substantially on a parallel to the axis of the tube, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members, said eject member being so cooperatively arranged with respect to the articles, as to eject the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tube, through one or the other end opening thereof, when the tape-like portion of the eject member is flexed to assume the aforesaid rectilinear condition thereof.
 8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the tube is releasably supported on the mounting members and connected to the mounting members at the first and second points thereof, there being additional flexible, tape-like portions of the eject member which extend between the intermediate points and the first and second points, respectively, and which are flexibly disposed in the passage to assume a rectilinear condition with the first-mentioned tape-like portion of the eject member, when the eject member is stretched between the mounting members.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein each of the intermediate points is disposed relatively adjacent the opposite end of the tube, relative to the first or second point on the same side of the passage therewith.
 10. The combination according to claim 8 wheRein the mounting members take the form of a pair of casing components which mate with one another to form a projectile having a load carrying cavity therein in which the pack is enclosed for flight with the projectile.
 11. An article dispensing pack for interposition between a pair of members which are relatively reciprocable in a direction relatively away from one another, comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes each of which is open at both ends, articles to be dispensed contained within the axial passages defined by the tubes, and means for ejecting the articles into the ambient surroundings of the tubes through the end openings thereof, including an elongate member of flexible material which is passed through the passages of the tubes, one end of the elongate member, which is on one side of the plurality of tubes, being adapted to be connected to one of said pair of members, and the other end, which is on the other side of the plurality of tubes, being adapted to be connected to the other of said pair of members, the elongate member being wrapped around part of the periphery of a mass of said articles contained within each tube, so that when the elongate member is straightened out by separation of the pair of members, at least part of the mass of articles contained within each of the tubes is ejected therefrom. 